What Will Inter Do About The Expiring Contract Of Center Back Milan Skriniar?

Extending a soccer player’s contract is never an easy task for Serie A clubs, who often get tangled up in strenuous negotiations with agents when it’s time to agree on the terms of a new deal.

Recent examples of high-profile players whose contract renewals at their club never materialized are Paulo Dybala, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Dries Mertens, who respectively left Juventus, AC Milan and Napoli as free agents.

When that happens, not only do clubs lose exceptional sporting talent, but they also miss out on a chance to cash in from selling them during the transfer session.

At the moment, Inter Milan’s center-back Milan Skrinkar is the most prominent name on the list of Serie A players whose contract is expiring in June 2023.

The current Slovakia national team captain joined Inter Milan in the summer of 2017 and has since risen to become one of the best defenders in Italian soccer.

While aerial duels, defensive reads and shot blocking are some of his major abilities, he is also very comfortable with the ball at his feet, so much so that he is often seen picking out precise passing lanes at Inter Milan.

What is astonishing about Skriniar’s playing style is his composure. Despite boasting the reputation as one of the league’s toughest defenders, he rarely gets booked by the referee when tackling the opponent: Just consider that in 183 Serie A matches with Inter Milan, he received 17 yellow cards and was never ejected from the field.

At 27 years old, Skriniar combines great maturity with charisma, physical prowess and high soccer IQ, a blend of skills that inevitably make him a world-class profile for the years to come.

It is not a coincidence that in Simone Inzaghi’s 3-5-2 formation, he is the only defender that regularly starts in both Serie A and the UEFA Champions League.

Skriniar is on a €3 million ($3m) annual salary according to estimates by Calcio e Finanza, while Transfermarkt currently lists his market value at €65 million ($64m).

Transfer rumors from last summer linked the Slovakia international with major European soccer clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, with the French giants reportedly making a €60 million ($59m) offer to add Skriniar to a backline that already features high-profile names like Sergio Ramos, Presnel Kimpembe and Marquinhos.

Refusing such a lucrative offer makes sense for Inter Milan only if they manage to extend Skriniar’s deal before the June 30, 2023 expiry date.

Skriniar’s agent is expected to meet with Inter Milan’s ownership in the coming days and, according to Italian transfer expert Gianluca di Marzio, he will settle for no less than a €6 million ($5.9m) yearly wage.